Business_Commuications_Trend

Business Communication Trends Business communication plays a vital role in ones day to day activities at work. Telephone, emails, instant messages, presentations, faxes to and from customers are just a few of the methods to communicate within a business and from business to business. A variation of the different communication systems helps to manage daily work activities. A few popular trends that are currently being used are instant messaging, teleconference between various sites and real-time online training courses. Communication in the business world can take many forms. Emails, faxes, telephone conferences, instant messages and meetings are just a few examples. Without these forms of communication, it would make my job much more complicated if not impossible. Outbound phone calls, faxing information to a customer, notating the conversation in a customer relationship management system are basic functions of my job and essential steps to keeping my department running smoothly. The telephone is one of the most important tools I use to communicate with my client base in Arkansas, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada and California. Instant messages allow immediate contact with a fellow co-worker or manager to get answers quickly. If I have a customer on the telephone with a complicated question, instant message allows me to find the answer swiftly, which enhances my customer’s experience with me and my company. “Experts predict that most office workers, only recently adapted to the pace of regular E-mail, soon will be speeding up again with instant messaging” (LaGesse, 2001). Emails are also an important part of my daily work management. I receive more emails than I send and most emails that I receive have important information pertaining to my job and industry that directly affect my customers. Having crucial information in an email helps to eliminate any additional time I would use in searching for answers. Business communication continues to evolve in finding ways to save businesses money and time. Instant messaging is a quick and easy way to get in contact with a fellow employee almost right away. This is trend that was not available or popular in offices several years ago. However, currently it seems to serve as a lifeline for workers. “Businesses are quick to adopt new forms of technology that can enhance the experience of workers and improve the bottom line” (Locker & Kienzler, p. 14). Another popular albeit expensive trend is teleconferences. Teleconference meetings occur at different locations allowing the members of a particular meeting see and speak with co-workers at another location as if they were sitting in the same room together. My company recently upgraded our facility to include a meeting room equipped for teleconferences. I have had the pleasure of being a part of several teleconference meetings and find this latest trend helpful in being able to meet with someone face to face. Initially, this option seems to be an expensive one to consider. However, when cost savings are assessed, it seems to pay for itself rather quickly. It eliminates the need for travel expenses, per diem, lodging costs and much more. It also allows a person to stay where they live without having to spend time away from their home and family. “While the initial price seems high, some organizations, and the makers of these systems, quickly counter that the system will pay for itself within a few months as the amount of national or international travel is greatly reduced” (Locker & Kienzler, p. 15). Another cost-effective and new trend in the workplace is the real-time online training courses now available. I recently took a course on how to manage my email. The training course was attended by employees in various locations with the ability to converse with one another via instant message and ask the instructor questions immediately, as if we were all in the same training room together. It takes a combination of business communication types and tools to be effective and productive. Telephone conversations, teleconferences, instant messages and emails are only some of the avenues readily available for companies and employees to communicate with internal and external audiences. Recent trends in business communication include teleconference, real-time online training and instant messaging. Business communication trends tend to assist in cutting costs for a company and help the employee save time thus making the employee more effective in their jobs.